An analysis of parents' attitudes whose children attend the secondary school regarding children's rights

The upbringing of children, who are the assurance of our future, is the basis of a healthy and peaceful society. Well-educated children can be aware of their rights and learn to respect the rights of others as individuals. Parents' attitudes towards children's rights are very important in preparing children for life. This study was conducted by considering the attitudes of the parents towards the rights of the child and their demographic characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the attitudes towards the rights of the child by the parents attending the public and private secondary schools in the central districts of Van. The population of the study consists of the parents of children attending public and private secondary schools in the central districts of Van province (Ipekyolu, Tusba, Edremit) in the 2018-2019 academic year. The sample group of the study consists of 870 parents. In order to reach the sample volume, the parents of the students in the central districts were included in the sample and 435 mothers and 435 fathers were studied. IBM SPSS 20 program was used in the study. Frequency and percentage statistics were used to show parents' demographic aspects and the characteristics related to school. Parametric tests were used to examine the differences between the scores obtained from the scale according to certain variables. Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient was used to check the internal consistency of the scale and its sub-dimensions. Findings obtained from the study were found to be at 95 % confidence level. According to the results, it was found that the perceptions of the parents about the rights of the children were quite high. Parents agree that they and the state should meet their children's care and protection needs. Parents have also agreed on the fact that parents should bring up their children to such an extent that they can make decisions on their own. There was no difference in the attitudes of parents towards the rights of their children according to their age. It was determined that the expectation of parents living in the village about state security and support, and their perceptions of care and protection were lower than of those living in the district and city centre. However, it was determined that those who live in the city center let their children make a decision on their own more than the ones who live in the village. Parents' attitudes towards children's rights differed according to educational background. The attitudes of only literate individuals towards state security and support were found to be lower than high school graduate, undergraduate, and graduate parents. Attitudes of primary school graduates towards state security and support are lower than of those having undergraduate and graduate degree. Only literate parents have lower perceptions of the need for care and protection than parents with undergraduate or graduate degrees. Perceptions of primary school graduate parents about the need for care and protection are lower than of those having graduate degree. On the other hand, it was determined that parents who graduated from undergraduate programs gave their children more decision-making behaviour than only literate and primary school graduates. Attitudes of parents who are teachers towards state security and support were found to be higher than those who are workers and housewives. It was determined that the parents whose profession is teaching more support the idea that the care and protection of children should be undertaken than the parents who are workers and housewives. It was found that there was no significant difference between the marital status of the parents and their views on children's rights according to the age and class degree of their children. Parents having a daughter have developed a perception that their children should be in state security compared to the parents with a son. In addition, it was found that parents who have a daughter tended more to have the approach that they should provide care and protection to their children themselves compared to parents who have a son. Key words: Children, Children's rights, Secondary school students, Parent, Attitude